Loved it! Shipwreck Island by S.A. Bodeen is an exciting, slightly scary adventure story that is fun for kids and adults alike. The pace is good, and the storytelling is top notch. Shipwreck Island is a definite winner, and should be an excellent series (trilogy? Not sure how many the author is planning for, but it would be fun as a long series!)
The basic premise is that Sarah’s Dad, John, has remarried 6 years after the death of Sarah’s mother to Yvonna a beautiful flight attendant with 2 boys named Marco and Nacho (Ignacio). To help create some family bonds, John and Yvonna decide to bring the kids along and turn their honeymoon into a family trip. The plan is to charter a boat in the south pacific area and spend a few days on a tropical island enjoying each other’s company. Like real life, their perfect plans go awry, and the real adventure begins.
Overall, this is an excellent mystery adventure novel and I can;t wait for the next one!
SHIPWRECK ISLAND by S.A. Bodeen | Goodreads
REVIEWED BY MAGGIE – 5 Stars
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Sometimes I feel like a bit of middle grade children’s fiction. That genre of fiction always brings me back to those days when I first picked up the Harry Potter novels and discovered how engaging and moving such books could be. So when I saw the cover of Hapenny Magick it immediately made the child in me (as well as the illustration junkie) go nuts. It’s a story about a little girl, Mae, who is a creature called a Happeny. She lives in a village of Hapennies and is the ward of a particularly nasty lady Gelbane whom her mother left her in the care of when she went off in search of Mae’s father who never returned from a trip long ago. Her village is protected by magic and there is even a wizard who lives on it’s borders. And Mae herself? Well she might just be a little bit magic herself. Despite the looks of the novel this is not your sweet and innocent story. It is both dark and light, whimsical and gritty. There are themes of child abuse and death. I would say it hearkens to the old style of fairy tales in its grim nature. I definitely recommend it and if you love illustrations you will absolutely adore all of the black and white sketches peppered throughout the book.
HAPENNY MAGICK by Jennifer Carson | Goodreads
REVIEWED BY TABITHA – 4 Stars
See the Fan Art Up! inspired by Happenny Magick
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*These books were provided by the Publishers. All opinions expressed are strictly our own.*
Tabitha (Pabkins)
Latest posts by Tabitha (Pabkins) (see all)
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blodeuedd
The second one looks cute and fun 🙂
blodeuedd recently posted…Monsoon Mists – Christina Courtenay
Tabitha (Pabkins)
Yes! It’s cute, fun and surprisingly dark.
Tabitha (Pabkins) recently posted…Middle Grade Reviews: Shipwreck Island & Hapenny Magick
Mary @ BookSwarm
Middle grade stories do bring me back to all those great stories of my childhood. I can’t read too many of them these days, because a lot are a bit too juvenile (as they should be — I’m way older than the target audience). These both sound adorable!
Mary @ BookSwarm recently posted…Speed Date with Mac: Fiancée For Hire by Tawna Fenske
Tabitha (Pabkins)
Oh I agree – I can’t read too many of them either but the ones that I do like I usually end up really liking. I tried to read a different one last month and had to DNF like 40 pages in.
Tabitha (Pabkins) recently posted…Middle Grade Reviews: Shipwreck Island & Hapenny Magick
Kirsty-Marie
Not into MG that much (though I’ve loved a few) Shipwreck Island sounds fun, though Hapenny Magick sounds a lot darker- especially for MG.
Kirsty-Marie recently posted…Cosplay Antics: MCM Part 2
Tabitha (Pabkins)
I’m not really into MG but a few now and then when they sound good really can hit the spot. Like The School for Good and Evil which is pretty much close to a MG YA crossover and I love the Cat valente Fairyland books. But other than those I can’t think of many others that I love.
Yes the Hapenny Magick one was like a fairytale dark and yet cute.
Tabitha (Pabkins) recently posted…Middle Grade Reviews: Shipwreck Island & Hapenny Magick
Lisa (@TenaciousReader)
Hapenny Magick sounds quite cute!
Lisa (@TenaciousReader) recently posted…Tough Traveling – Quest Objects
Tabitha (Pabkins)
It was cute and surprisingly dark like old school fairytales.
Tabitha (Pabkins) recently posted…Middle Grade Reviews: Shipwreck Island & Hapenny Magick
Danya @ Fine Print
My word, Nacho is possibly the greatest nickname for Ignacio anyone could ever come up with. Ever.
Danya @ Fine Print recently posted…Tough Travelling: Quest Objects
Tabitha (Pabkins)
That’s one crazy nickname – but the name is kind of as well lol.
Tabitha (Pabkins) recently posted…Middle Grade Reviews: Shipwreck Island & Hapenny Magick
Lola @ Hit or Miss Books
I’m definitely interested in the Hapenny Magick book. I like the fact that it has a dark aspect since usually it turns out very intriguing (in children’s books) The first one I don’t know, it doesn’t seem appealing to me. 😛 Thanks for sharing! 😀
Lola @ Hit or Miss Books recently posted…Review of Sisters (Smile #2) by Raina Telgemeier
Wendy Darling
I love middle grade books, although I’m a lot pickier about them than YA–I’ve been trying to read more of them this year as well! I like Stephanie Bodeen a lot, and SHIPWRECK ISLAND sounds like a ton of fun. I’ll have to check out the other title sometime soon, too!
Wendy Darling recently posted…If I Stay film + book giveaway
Faye @ The Social Potato
I absolutely adore MG fiction. It’s one of those really underrated demographics that deserve a spotlight of its own. The children may be young, but it doesn’t mean the themes there are lesser than what we see in YA or Adult. Sometimes they are even more thought-provoking and heart-wrenching (A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness, anyone?). Thanks for bringing these books to my attention! Adding them to my TBR 🙂
Faye @ The Social Potato recently posted…ARC Review: The Traitor’s Blade by Sebastien de Castell – “Holy smokes, this is AWESOME!”
Emily @ Oh Magic Hour
I have been on a middle grade spree this year I feel like. Both of these sound relaly great… more to add to the list!
Emily @ Oh Magic Hour recently posted…The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer L. Holm | Emily Reviews!
Kim { Book Swoon }
These both sound wonderful, but I must admit to being drawn to HAPENNY MAGICK, with its “old style of fairy tales in its grim nature.” I love to escape with MG, and read them along with my kids as well. Thanks for bringing these two to my attention, Tabitha! 🙂
Kim { Book Swoon } recently posted…Young Adult Book Review: White Hot Kiss by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Jessica @ Rabid Reads
You know that I don’t read much Middle Grade, but I might have to make an exception for Shipwreck Island. I don’t see a lot of 5 stars from you, and your favorites haven’t steered me wrong yet.
Jessica @ Rabid Reads recently posted…Review: Wickedly Magical by Deborah Blake
Tabitha (Pabkins)
Oh Shipwreck Island was reviewed 5 Stars by Maggie not by me. =)
Tabitha (Pabkins) recently posted…Review: Free Agent by J.C. Nelson
Kel (Booked til Tuesday)
Shipwreck Island? … Gilligan?!
And the art for Hapenny Magick looks beautiful!
Kel (Booked til Tuesday) recently posted…Discussion: Online Book Communities
Tabitha (Pabkins)
The art for Hapenny Magick is wonderful! Originally the reason I was drawn to the book in the first place.
Tabitha (Pabkins) recently posted…Review: Free Agent by J.C. Nelson